BS in Systems Engineering/Accelerated MEd in Special Education (Early Childhood Special Education (Non-Licensure) Concentration)

The program leading to the BS in systems engineering prepares students for a professional career in systems engineering. The program reflects the systems engineer's unique perspective, which considers all aspects of a system throughout its lifetime. Mason's systems engineering program is interdisciplinary, drawing from engineering, computer science, operations research, psychology, and economics. The core systems engineering courses tie these diverse threads to provide a global understanding of how individual engineering disciplines fit into the development of complex, large-scale systems. Students gain depth in a technical area by selecting a sequence of technical electives that constitute an emphasis. Students choose their own emphasis with the help of their advisor. A year-long senior design project provides hands-on experience in applying various systems engineering methods and tools. The master’s degree in special education is designed to prepare both educators for the classroom and individuals working in a special education context outside of the classroom with the specialized skills and content knowledge needed to support the needs of individuals with disabilities. Students may focus their program on a specific area in the field by completing a licensure or non-licensure certificate program in conjunction with the MEd by using certificate coursework to fulfill the elective credits for the MEd degree program. This concentration is for professionals who already hold an early childhood special education teacher license or are interested in working in an early childhood special education context outside the classroom. Students who wish to seek early childhood education licensure are advised to consider completing the Early Childhood Special Education Licensure certificate program in conjunction with the MEd. Students may use their certificate coursework to fulfill the elective credits for the MEd degree program. Highly qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor’s/accelerated master’s program and obtain a bachelor degree area and an MEd in Special Education, Concentration in Early Childhood Special Education (Non-Licensure) in an accelerated time frame after completion of 144 credits.